Reusable Straws Every Millennial Should Have In Their Bag

Bring these along for lunch.

by Hidayah Idris /
June 19, 2018

In case you haven’t noticed, Singaporeans use a lot of straws. We use straws not only for cold drinks, but also kopi when it’s poured into a plastic bag. It’s safe to say that our use of straws is excessive.

The good news is, more businesses are helping to do their part to cut down on single-usage plastics (such as straws) by swapping them with metal straws for dine-in customers, or just not providing them at all, in the case of KFC.

The fast-food chain announced that from tomorrow, June 20, it will no longer provide plastic straws or lids for its dine-in customers at all their 84 outlets in Singapore.

Plastic lids will be provided for customers who dapao their drinks, but no straw will be provided. According to the brand, it will save an estimated 17.9 tonnes (17,900kg) of single-use plastics in a year.

These businesses are not the only ones trying to make a difference. Some individuals have also launched companies that sell reusable straws, be it metal, glass or bamboo straws. These straws are a little pricier – they cost at least $3 per straw – but can be used for a long time, and does lesser harm to the environment. Want to do your part for Mother Nature? Scroll through the gallery to see some reusable straws to try.

If you love everything rose gold, why not make your life better with this rose gold straw? According to the reviews, the circumference is wider than regular straws, making this perfect to be used for drinks with chunky toppings or coarse pulps, such as soursop.

If you prefer bent straws, try this one that’s handmade in Western Australia. It doesn’t come with a brush cleaner, but all you have to do is soak it on soapy water after use, and then rinse thoroughly. A point to note, don’t leave your straw uncleaned after usage, as it might be difficult to clean the interior. The diameter is the same as normal straw, so it can be used for regular drinks such as water and pulp-less juices.

Seastainable Metal Straw Set, $7.50, Seastainable Co.

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The set comes with a regular-sized straw and one with a wider circumference for bubble tea, cleaners for each straw and a recycled linen pouch for you to carry the set around (because that’s the whole point, right?). The brand takes it a step further by using recycled packaging to ship their items!

Want something that looks classy in your glass? Opt for this glass straw with a 12mm diameter, that’s slightly bigger than regular straws, but smaller than bubble tea straws. If you find the glass getting “cloudy” after multiple uses and repeated cleansing, soak in vinegar to get rid of the hard water buildup. This is made of glass, so it can break or chip when dropped, so be extra careful!

Classic Twin Set in China Cove, $26.30 (US$19.50), Simply Straws

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This set comes with two straws – one regular and one bent. It also comes with a brush cleaner so you can ensure the interior of the straws are free of drink residue or dirt. The glass straws are dyed using non-toxic colours and are dishwasher and microwave safe. There are seven colour combinations to choose from, so happy choosing! The straws will be shipped from US.

Bamboo Straws Wrap Set, $11, Bamboo Straw Girl

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Founded by a millennial, the company started with only one product – bamboo straws – but now stocks other eco-friendly products. The bamboo straw wrap sets come in variations. The featured set (Set A) has a 15-cm bamboo straw, 20-cm bamboo straw and a fabric wrap. Bubble tea straws are also available at $3.80 each.